Disclaimer: ZiPS projections are computer-based projections of performance.
Performances have not been allocated to predicted playing time in the majors -
many of the players listed above are unlikely to play in the majors at all in 2007.
ZiPS is projecting equivalent production - a .240 ZiPS projection may end up
being .280 in AAA or .300 in AA, for example. Whether or not a player will play
is one of many non-statistical factors one has to take into account when predicting
the future.

Players are noted with their most recent teams unless Dan has made a mistake.

ZiPS is projecting based on the AL having a 4.51 ERA and the NL having a 4.37 ERA.

Reader Comments and Retorts

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The next time you overhear someone talking about your favorite team and saying "strikeouts are overrated, x team needs to stop worrying about the sex factor of strikeouts and start teaching pitching to contact," make sure to point the Royals to them.

I'd be shocked if it wasn't! It was really funny doing the Angels right after the Royals. A 4.35 ERA ranks *12th* on the Angels (behind K-Rod, Weaver, Shields, Carrasco, Escobar, Lackey, Donnelly, Santana, Romero, Gregg, and Bulger).

Odalis Perez is the best projected full-time starter here, at a 4.76 ERA and I have the Angels having a whole rotation plus one better than that (Weaver, Escobar, Lackey, Santana, Saunders and Colon in that order).

I got Gathright for $16 in a 10 team AL only league. I was debating keeping him but a .335 OBP just isn't worth carrying him for the stolen bases. My mind could be changed though. I already have a bunch of wimps on that team in Luis Castillo ($14), Y. Betancourt ($3), Aaron Hill ($5), BJ Upton ($9)..I could pretty much wrap up SB if I kept Gathright though assuming he doesn't get benched.

I'm woefully unread in ZiPS -- what work does it base Greinke's projection on? I ask because he's a sample size demon, but his latest work in the minors would indicate that he is probably back to 'normal', if not an itch better. But, of course, that involves very small sample sizes all the way up.

And finally, 32, 31, 30, 32, 30 -- the ages, respectively, of the top five projected pitchers. Hooray.

Are the Royals smart enough to try to make some deals for what they need-know that they finally don't need everything? I would assume no, but I also didn't expect them to have so many league average hitters.

Are the Royals smart enough to try to make some deals for what they need-know that they finally don't need everything? I would assume no, but I also didn't expect them to have so many league average hitters.

Remember, Allard Baird is gone. I expect Dayton Moore to be very active this off-season. I've been pleased with his moves thus far but this winter will be a test of his skills.